Introduction: Ask students how many have cats as
pets. On the board, brainstorm a list of common cat behaviors and personality quirks. Next read
the poem.When you read it a second time, invite students to chime in whenever
they hear the refrains, "Mew, mew, mew" and "a proud,mysterious cat."

The Mysterious
Cat

I saw a proud, mysterious
cat,

I saw a proud, mysterious
cat,

Too proud to catch a mouse
or rat -

Mew, mew, mew.

But catnip she would eat,
and purr,

But catnip she would eat,
and purr.

And goldfish she did much
prefer -

Mew, mew, mew.

I saw a cat - 'twas
but a dream,

I saw a cat - 'twas
but a dream,

Who scorned the slave
that brought her cream -

Mew, mew, mew.

Unless the slave were
dressed is style,

Unless the slave were
dressed in style,

And knelt before her all
the while -

Mew, mew, mew.

Did you ever hear of a
thing like that?

Did you ever hear
of a thing like that?

Did you ever hear of a
thing like that?

Oh, what a proud mysterious
cat.

Oh, what a proud mysterious
cat.

Oh, what a proud mysterious
cat.

Mew...Mew...Mew.

Poem by Vachel Lilndsay. Taken from Sing a Song of Popcorn, edited
by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers. New
York: Scholastic Inc., 1988, p. 65. ISBN: 059043974X.

Extension: Read several cat poems by other authors.
Divide the class into small groups, and ask each group to select a different cat poem to perform as a group. Help students
practice the words, facial expressions, and movements. Hold a "cat performance," a time when groups perform their poems for
the entire class. If students enjoy the experience, have them perform the poems for a different class at your grade level.